Media Release

Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme is more proof of Australia's new Pacific focus

The Pacific Seasonal Worker Pilot Scheme is a win-win for
both Australia and the Pacific region as a whole.

“The introduction of a seasonal worker scheme
has been at the top of the agenda for many Pacific Island
leaders,” said Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island
Affairs Duncan Kerr.

“It has also been a key objective of Australian
farmers and growers.

“The Rudd Government has listened to the evidence and
taken decisive action to introduce a pilot scheme that is a
win-win for both Australia’s farming communities and our
close neighbours across the Pacific.

“In just over nine months, the Rudd Labor Government
has fundamentally reformed Australia’s relationship with
the Pacific with a range of practical measures and active
diplomacy.

“This pilot scheme, along with the Prime
Minister’s attendance this week at the Pacific
Leaders’ Forum in Niue, provides yet more evidence of the
importance the Rudd Government places on its closest
region.”

Some key facts:

Up to 2500 workers from Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Tonga
and Vanuatu will participate in the three-year pilot and work
for up to seven months a year in the horticulture industry.

The pilot scheme includes one country each from Melanesia
(Vanuatu), Polynesia (Tonga) and Micronesia (Kiribati) which
already has a proven track record of sending workers to New
Zealand under its seasonal labour scheme.

Australia’s pilot scheme also includes Papua New
Guinea and the Australian and PNG governments will work
together to strengthen labour-sending arrangements to
facilitate PNG’s inclusion of workers.

Australian farmers (represented by the National
Farmers’ Federation) are enthusiastic supporters of a
seasonal worker scheme. They say up to $700 million of fresh
produce is left to rot because of a lack of reliable
workers.

The pilot scheme will only operate in areas where there is a
demonstrated lack of ready, willing and available labour.
Seasonal workers will work to the same pay and conditions of
Australian workers.

The seasonal worker scheme is not a cheap labour scheme.
With costs of contributing to airfares, accommodation, training
and compliance taken into account, participation is likely to
cost employers more than if they hired local workers.